Machine for cutting and shocking standing corn



(No Model.) 3- Sheets--Sheet 1.

A. B. ROBINSON. MACHINE Foe GUTTING AND sHoeKINe STANDING CORN.'

Attorney.

Tui NATIONAL umoalurnma coMPANv.

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(No Model.) 3V Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. B. ROBINSON. MACHINE FCR CUTTING AND SHOCKING STANDING CORN.

9pamnted Apr. 17,1894.

(Nn Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. B. ROBINSON. MACHINE FOR GUTTING AND SHOGKING STANDING GGRN.

No. 518,551. Patented Apr. 17, 1894.

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TME NATIONAL LWHOGMFHING COMPANY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

AARON BLACK ROBINSON, OF MARYSVILLE, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND SHOCKING STANDING CORN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,551, dated April 1'?, 1894.

Application tiled January 20, 1894. Serial No. 497,476. (No model.)

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, AARON BLACK ROBIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marysville, in the county of Union and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinery for the Purpose of Cutting and Shocking Standing Corn; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My'invention relates to corn harvesters; and it has for its object the production of a machine to simultaneously cut two rows of corn and form the stalks into a perfect shock, the working of the device up to the time of removing the shock from the machine being automatic.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved harvester. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the harvester. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line .fr cc, Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the manner of attaching and operating the upper gatherer.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a rotating table resting on a central bearing 1 and further supported by friction rollers 2 fitted in the stationary platform a of the machine. This platform is supported by an axle Z9, formed similar to an ordinary crank-axle, having at each end a wheel c, and also by a caster-wheel d, which is protected by a cover e. The table A has a cog-gearing 3 attached to its outer edge; and a similar gearing 4 is attached to the inner side of each of the wheels c. On the lower end of a shaft 5, revolubly mounted in a hanger 6, secured to the axle IJ on each side, is a gear-wheel 7, meshing with cog-gearing 4 on wheels c. On each shaft 5, near the upper end thereof, is rigidly secured another gear-wheel 8, which meshes with a gear-wheel 9 loosely mounted on the vertical portion of axle b. The wheel 9, on one side of the machine, meshes directly with the cog-gearing 3 on table A, but on the other side meshes with cog-gearing 3 through the medium of a gear-wheel 9', all as clearly seen in Fig. 3. The eifect of this arrangement is, as is obvious, to give a rotary motion to the table A from the motion of wheels c as the machine is moved forward.

Securely fastened to the upper side of table A, and projecting slightly beyond the outer edge thereof, is a circular knife B, for the purpose of cutting the stalks of corn as they come into contact with it. Also secured on the upper surface of table A, above the knife,

is a gatherer C, composed of a series of curved arms radiating from a central hub 10; and passing through the hub 10 and having a bearing in the table A, is a vertical shaft l1, around which the shock is formed. The lower end of this shaft is squared and tits into a square socket in table A, thus rendering the shaft 11 removable from the rotating table A, but when in place on that table, all motion of the latter is imparted to the shaft.

In the platform a, in front of the table A,

`and a distance apart equal to the distance of two rows of corn, are two slotted openings l2, extending from the front of the platform backward slightly beyond the edge of the knife, and serving, as the machine is moved forward, to allow the knife B to come into contact with the stalks of corn. The outer ends of the openings l2 are flared to insure the entrance of the stalks. Four upright standards, 13, 14, 15, and 16, are located between the openings 12 and the outer edge of the platform a.. Two of the standards, 13 and 15, are secured, one on each side to and near the front edge of the platform a, While the other two, 14 and 1G, which are tubular, asseen in Fig. 4, are secured tothe platform,one on each side, near the rotating table A. Loosely mounted on the upper ends of standards 13 and 15 are sprocket-wheels 17, similar wheels 18 being rigidly mounted on the upper ends of shafts 19 located in the hollow standards 14 and 16, and around these two sets of sprocket-wheels pass sprocket-chains 20, having attached thereto arms 2l, which serve as a means for steadying the upper ends of the stalks of corn and forcing the stalks back int-o the upper IOO after. On the lower ends of` shafts 19, which are revolubly mounted in the standards 14 and 16, are gear-wheels 22. Motion is trans- 5 mitted to the gear-wheel 22 on the left-hand side of the machine bya gear-wheel 23, loosely mounted on a stud 24 secured in the platform, meshing with itand with the cog-gearing 3 on table A, the gear-wheel 22 on the righthand side meshing directly with the cog-gearing 3. The object of this arrangement is to impart motion to the arms 2l in the proper direction. n

Near the forward end of platform @,'between the openings 12, is a post 25, the upper end of which is slotted at 26, and contains, in the upper end of said slot, a pulley 27. Pivotally secured in the lower end of the slot 26 is a hanger 28, which, a short distance from its pivotal connection, is turned downward at a right angle, being, when so bentin a line directly overshaft 11. On the lower end of hanger 28 is revolubly attached the upper gatherer D, similar in construction togatherer C, and which is secured and operated in the following mann er: The hub 29 of gatherer D, is in the form of a hollow7 sphere, from which a short tubular projection 30 extends downward, the interior diameter of the projection being sufficient to receive the end of shaft 11. ofthe han-ger 28, serves as a bearing for the hub of the gatherer D. The interior of prof` jection 30 is grooved, as at 32, and splines 33 gatherer D is in place, thus causing said gath.` erer to revolve with shaft` 1l and yet be capable` of being lift-ed free from connection with that shaft. The grooves 32 and splines 33 are so arranged that the arms of the gatherers C andD are in vertical alignment when in place on the machine.

To the hanger 28, near the point atwhich it is' turned downward, is secured a rope 34, which passes over pulley 27, down along post 25, and is wound around a drum 35 mounted on post 25 and operated by a handle 36. Directly beneath this drum is secured the "drivers seat- 3'7 in such manner that he can easily reach the handle to operate the drum.

Supported by standards 13 and 14,and 15 and 16, are guide-bars 38, which are directly abovel the outer edge of openings 12. Guidebars 39 are attached to another set of standards 40 located on and near the forward end of platform a, said guidebars being in vertical alignment with the inner edge of openings 12. Centrally supported by the post 25 is a rearwardly curved guide-bar 4l, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. These guide-bars, 39 and 41, may, if preferred, be formed integrahas shown in the drawings. n To standard 16 are attached two ropes 42, 4one near the upper end andthe other near the lower end of rsaid standard. The ropes are passed in rear vof shaft 11 and over pulleysl 43 on the standard`l4, and have weights A ball 3l, secured on the lower end on shaft 11 t in said grooves 32 when the .44 attached to the ends thereof, serving to keepthe rropes taut. y

Acurved compressing-bar E is securely attached `to an arm 45 movably hung on the horizontal portion of `the hangerk 28. This bar, which is above the upper gatherer D, serves to compress the shock and is held in operative position by a spring 46, one end of which is secured to a lug 47 on hanger 28, and the other end bears against the upper portion of arm 45.

Brackets 48 are attached to standards14 and l 16, near the upper ends thereof, and uprightrods 49 rise from the brackets and are fastened, respectively, to each end of a crosspiece 50, which is secured to the post 25, the object of this arrangement being to bracethe parts.

The operation of my harvester is as follows:

The machine being drawn forward by the horses, motion, as hereinbefore described, is imparted yto the mechanism. y. TheA standing stalks of corn passing throu'gh'openings 12 in platform os, assisted'by arms 2l on sprock et-ohains 20, and by guides 38 and 39, come vinto contact with the knife B, are severed and passed onto the rotating table A. Once on the table A, the stalks, supported in front by the curved guide 41 and in rear by the compressing-.bar E, are carried around by the curved arms of the gatherers C and D until coming into contact with ropes 42, which latter, as pressure is exerted thereon, are pushed backward to permit the stalks to pass the end of thek compressingbar E, after which the weights 44 draw the ropes forward again and the stalks are gradually forced toward the center shaft' 11. The stalks are held against shaft 11 by ropes 42 until the former pass around in front of shaft 11 where the ropes no longer exert a pressure, whenthe compressingbar E holds the partly formed shock` in place until it is again pressed by the ropes 42. The `weights 44 on the ends of the ropes 42 allow the latter to adj ust themselves to the increasing size of the shock. After a desired quantity of corn is formed into a shockk the machine is stopped, the shock is tied, drum 35 is operated to raise the upper gatherer D from the shock, the shaftll is removed from its socket and raised from` the shock, and the latter is removed from the platform and dropped behind the machine. The shaft 11 is put in place, gatherer D is lowered into position and the machine started tok form another shock.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isf

1. In a corn harvester, the combination', with a platform having slotted openings through which the cornstalks pass, an axle on which the platform is secured, and carryingwheels mounted on said axle, of a table on which the shock is formed, revolu bly mounted on the platform, a circular' knife secured on IOO vI2C) said table,an upper and a lower gatherer,

each comprising a hub and radial arms, the lower gatherer being Arigidly secured on the p table above the knife, a vertical shaft on which the gatherers are mounted, the lower end of said shaft being removably fixed in the table in a manner to permit the shaft to rotate with the latter, and means for rotating the table.

2. In a corn harvester, the combination, with a platform having slotted openings through which the cornstalks pass, means for forcing the corn rearward through the slotted openings, an axle on which the platform is secured, and carrying-wheels mounted on said axle, of a table on which the shock is formed mounted on the platform, a circular knife secured on the table, an upper and a lower gatherer, each comprisinga hub and radial arms,

the lower gatherers being rigidly secured on the table above the knife, a vertical shaft on which the gatherers are mounted, the lower end of said shaft being removably fixed in the table in a manner to permit the shaftto rotate with the latter, a yielding compressing-bar, and means for rotating the table.`

3. In a corn harvester, the combination, with the slotted platform, of the revoluble table mounted thereon, means for revolving the table, the circular knife secured on said table, the upper and lower gatherers each comprising a hub and curved radial arms, vertical shaft adapted toturn with the table and having the gatherers mounted thereon, a vertically-swinging hanger to which the upper gatherer is revolubly attached, and means for raising and lowering the hanger and gatherer.

4. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with the slotted platform, of the revoluble table mounted thereon, means for revolving the table, the circular knife secured on said table, the upper and lower gatherers each comprising a hub and curved radial arms, the vertical shaft adapted to turn with the table and having the gatherers mounted thereon, a vertically-swinging hanger to which the upper gatherer is revolubly attached, means for raising and lowering the hanger and gatherer, and one or more ropes secured at one end to a fixed support on the machine, passed horizontally in rear of the vertical shaft and over pulleys and carrying weights on their free ends.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AARON BLACK ROBINSON. Witnesses:

JAMES W. ROBINSON, ROBERT L. WOODBURN.

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